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09/07 10:25 CDT Falcons name Tua Tagovailoa as Week 1 starter, Michael Penix
Jr. will be inactive vs. Steelers
Falcons name Tua Tagovailoa as Week 1 starter, Michael Penix Jr. will be
inactive vs. Steelers
By MAURA CAREY
AP Sports Writer
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) --- Tua Tagovailoa has been named the Atlanta Falcons'
starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team
announced Monday.
The decision comes after Tagovailoa's monthslong competition with Michael Penix
Jr., who started nine games for the Falcons in 2025 before suffering a
season-ending torn ACL in November.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Cooper Rush will back up Tagovailoa and
Penix will be inactive. He declined to speculate on who the team might start at
signal-caller beyond Week 1.
Tagovailoa outnumbered Penix in valuable reps throughout training camp. Penix
was cleared for 11-on-11 drills on Aug. 22 but did not appear in any preseason
games for the Falcons.
"Of course, Mike just getting back to 11-on-11, wanted to make sure we gave him
an opportunity in these practices, and we did," Stefanski said Monday. "But
feel strongly about our decision with everything, all the information available
to us."
Tagovailoa started the Falcons' first and final preseason games. He was 7 of 8
for 95 yards in three drives against his former team, the Miami Dolphins, in
Atlanta's third exhibition. He led an 8-play, 60-yard touchdown drive in
Atlanta's opening drive and lost a fumble in his second. The Falcons beat the
Dolphins 17-12.
Stefanski first addressed the quarterback unit as a whole, which consists of
Tagovailoa, Penix, Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand.
"Really, really proud of those guys," he said. "Those guys have worked like
crazy all offseason, and they've pushed each other, supported each other, and
that's what we'll do for Tua. We'll continue to support him and understand that
this is a collective group that is constantly looking to help each other."
Tagovailoa signed a one-year deal with the Falcons in March following a
six-year stint with the Dolphins. Miami is on the hook for $99.2 million over
the next two seasons after awarding Tagovailoa a four-year, $212.5 million
contract extension in 2024.
"I've gotten to see Tua work from the spring until now," Stefanski said. "New
system for all these guys, and like I told them, there's a lot of newness with
our players, coaches and, you know, everybody getting up to speed, and he's
done a really nice job of working at it. ... I think he's really put himself in
position to go be the best version of himself."
Tagovailoa's first start for Atlanta will be at the site of his last with
Miami. The quarterback was benched for rookie Quinn Ewers following the
Dolphins' 28-15 loss in Pittsburgh on Dec. 15.
___
See AP's full NFL coverage here
